The rise in popularity of mixed martial arts companies like the UFC, ONE Championship, Bellator, LFA and Invicta is now transitioning into every day for the average person. MMA training has exploded onto the scene and is beginning to replace traditional combat sport exercises such as kickboxing or karate. Why? Because MMA takes all disciplines and teaches students a wide variety of self-defence techniques while simultaneously keeping them healthy. Let us take a look at the health benefits you can receive from training in mixed martial arts.
MMA is the perfect activity to get in better shape, mentally and physically. Some people may become precautious in entering the gym after witnessing the physical contact and injuries that the UFC fighters entail. Critics are quick to point out the violence involved. Claiming that MMA is not safe for everyone, including children and women, we believe this thinking method is old-fashioned and simply not true.
MMA is a fantastic way to stay healthy, and training is safer than most sports. Of course, we don’t deny that precautions should be taken to assure safety because injuries can occur with any form of physical training. But no matter your sex, age, or the participant’s health, under the correct instructions, it can be rewarding in so many ways.
The Fitness Benefits
The number of fitness benefits through training in MMA is endless. Professional studies have proven that martial arts give people a complete body workout, unlike most types of exercise. You are not just focusing on your muscles like weight training; you receive a cardio and strength workout rolled into one. With that said, the choice is yours; if you want to focus on toning up, then you can focus on one area in training to achieve this. Most importantly, MMA training offers more than simple fitness benefits; these benefits become habits over time.
Become Strong
One area of MMA training that you’ll notice first is increased strength. This aspect is pointed out because you’ll see the difference within weeks of regular exercise. It becomes apparent when taking part in activities like lifting but more so in your everyday life. Specific tasks will just become more manageable. Your improved functional strength is a popular reason why people chose MMA over alternative kinds of exercise. Bodyweight drills and weightlifting are two of the critical practices to help you gain strength. And just like the fights hosted in Hard Rock, who wouldn’t want to flex their newly acquired power?
Improved Coordination
Many ball sports can help with hand/eye coordination, but I bet you didn’t realize that MMA can also assist your hand and eye coordination. When fighters take place in competitive one on one combat, they’re required to have their punches, kicks and grappling takedowns flow in unison. Timing and fast reflexes are imperative; understanding distance and owning these skills give fighters the ability to dodge incoming attacks providing a higher level of defence and attack.
Better Flexibility
Improved flexibility can particularly become helpful for older aged MMA practitioners. Increased flexibility lowers the risk of mobility issues, pulled muscles or ligaments, and fractures. For the younger audience, flexibility can assist your everyday life, such as physically demanding jobs and even different sporting activities. Grappling helps passive flexibility, but more active training like stretches and high kicks can help you with dynamic flexibility.
Other Sports Become Easier
A lot of sports require endurance, balance, coordination, power and strength. So, it only makes sense that your overall athletic ability will transfer into other sports you take part in. Even professional athletes from organizations like the NFL, NBA and MLB can often be found inside an MMA gym. Training in martial arts does not have to involve actual fights; you can still train and take the benefits of the exercises into other aspects of life.
Conclusion
The long list of benefits from MMA stems into areas you may not think of. Mental health is improved, your self-defence confidence is raised, dietary issues are often fixed amongst many other upsides.
The only factor preventing you from training in MMA is yourself, but remember, once you cross that line of training in MMA, you might not ever look back because martial arts is steadily becoming the most popular training regime in the world.